Deputy Secretary-General, at Women’s Commission Event, Urges Joint Global Action to End Female Genital Mutilation, Child Marriage by 2030

Following are UN Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson’s remarks, as prepared for delivery, at the Commission on the Status of Women high-level event “The Time is Now!  Let’s End Harmful Practices against Women and Girls by 2030”, in New York today:

Thank you very much for the opportunity to be part of this important event.  I especially appreciate the title of this event:  “The Time Is Now!”  Today’s meeting is a rallying call to action.  I am proud to be part of this global movement to end harmful practices against women and girls by 2030.

Today, we may cite many important numbers.  But, I want to recall and stress that these numbers represent the lives and stories of women and girls — fellow human beings.  Their suffering and traumas are not over.  Physical and psychological scars are there forever.

Our task is to prevent other women and girls from enduring the same harm.  We must help survivors enjoy full human rights and live up to their potential to contribute to their families and society.

Globally, it is estimated that 200 million girls and women today have undergone different forms of female genital mutilation.  In some parts of the world, female genital mutilation is considered a prerequisite for marriage.

Early and underage marriage are also harmful practices.  Such practices threaten the well-being of girls and women and expose them to severe health problems, even death.  In developing countries, one in every three girls is married before she is 18 and one in nine before she reaches the age of 15.  And each year, more than 7 million girls give birth before the age of 18.

Let us remember that the next generation is also affected.  Stillbirths and deaths during the first week of life are higher among babies born to adolescents and women subjected to female genital mutilation and child marriage.

Child marriage robs girls of their education.  It diminishes their chances of decent employment.  And it negatively affects other life choices and opportunities.

Another grave form of gender injustice is the widely perceived low value attributed to girls.  It is estimated that well over 100 million girls across Asia were either aborted or died from neglect because of a cultural preference for boys.  This is a manifestation of deep and widespread gender discrimination.

We have to join forces to tackle the root causes of gender inequality and violence against women and girls.  I have seen the value of full collaboration with all relevant partners.  Governments can set the tone.  Men and boys must show that they fully respect the human rights of all girls and women.

Religious leaders and faith-based organizations must affirm that harmful practices are not expressions of faith.  Community and religious leaders must convince communities to abandon these practices, and affirm the human rights of all girls and women.

The most effective way to reduce child marriage is to empower girls with education, skills and resources.  Change which comes from within communities is change which lasts.

We have a global consensus in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.  It commits the world to eliminating harmful practices over the next 15 years.  It will take major investments to reach the most affected populations, especially investments in girls’ health, education, employment and leadership.

Governments must step up these investments and adopt and enforce laws and policies to end harmful practices, to protect women and girls and to hold perpetrators to account.

With the new Goals, we have a collective responsibility to end violence and discrimination against women and girls and eliminate harmful practices once and for all.  This will help us make progress on health and well-being, quality education, decent work and economic growth for all.

Working together, we can consign these harmful practices to history and uphold the rights of every women and every girl everywhere.  We can radically change their whole life situation.  This is an imperative for women and girls – and for our common future.